What's the main difference between "pierce", "poke" and "stab"?
Native speaker’s answer
Rebecca
In the most simplest terms, the degree of the intensity of each action is different. "Poking" can be as simple as using your finger to nudge someone. It's a much gentler action than the other two. For example, let's say a sharp tree branch touched your leg. That would be considered "poking." Meanwhile, to "pierce" something means that a sharp object has gone through or into something (made a hole). Thus, the act of creating holes in one's ears for cosmetic purposes is called "ear piercing." Lastly, to "stab" someone means to use a sharp knife or weapon to injure or kill someone. Ex: Stop poking my arm! I'm trying to focus on my work. Ex: I got my ears pierced as a baby. Ex: The victim was stabbed by an unknown stranger and brought to the hospital.
